Refrigerating apparatus



u y 31, 1951 A. v. FROHNAPEL 2,562,609

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 7, 1948 48 as 26 45 II/III vx 58 44 '36 42 w INVENTOR.

HTTo/aNEv Patented July 31, 1951 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Alvah V. Frohnapel, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Nash-Kelvinator Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a i

corporation of Maryland Application October 7, 1948, Serial No. 53,163

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to refrigerator cabinets and more particularly to cabinet closure members or lids.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved refrigerator cabinet lid construction to insulate inner and outer surfaces thereof from each other in a practical, inexpensive manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved, inexpensive, sectionally constructed lid of a character to decrease condensation on the surfaces thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved hollow refrigerator cabinet lidformed of transparent members of such arrangement and construction as to prevent condensation and clouding of the members on the inner, as well as, on the outer surfaces thereof.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a sectionally constructed hollow lid in which a partition insulates against direct heat conduction between inner and outer lid sections and at the same time functions as a common wall of a pair of so-called dead air spaces in the lid.

A further object of the invention resides in the construction of a lid of the above character in such a manner as to provide for attaching seals and hinges thereto.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

V In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a refrigerator cabinet having my improved closure members or lids;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a pair of the lids shown removed from the cabinet;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the lids, taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the lids, taken along the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the numeral 20 designates generally, a refrigerator cabinet of the type suitable for the storing and preserving of ice cream. The cabinet 20 may be of rectangular cross section having the usual upright side walls 22 and end walls 24. On the upper edges of these cabinet walls 22, 24 is mounted a frame-like cabinet top 26 which may be secured in place to the cabinet side and endwalls by any suitable means. In the cabinet top 26 are a number of rectangularly shaped openings for access to the cabinet interior or storage compartment which openings are closable by my improved lids, designated generally by the numeral 28. Each of the cabinet access openings is closed by a pair of the lids 28; the lids of each pair preferably being connected together by a hinge 36.

In accordance with my invention, each of the lids 28 comprises, an outer sheet material member or pan 32, an inner sheet material member or pan 34 and an intermediate sheet material member or partition 36. In the interests of low manufacturing costs, I make the inner and outer lid pans 32, 34 alike; each having a continuous flange or sides 40 extending entirely therearound. These alike pans 32, 34 are arranged in opposite, relatively overlying relationship to form a hollow lid; the pans being formed with cutturned, continuous flange portions 38 to provide for increased contact and sealing surface. As shown, the flanges 38 are in opposed relationship to each other. Also, I make the lid pans 32, 34 and partition 36 of a suitably transparent material so that the contents of the cabinet may be seen therethrough or without need of raising the lids; the material used preferably being a transparent plastic material so that the lids will be light weight and so that they will be unlikely to break. The lid partition 36 is arranged having an outer marginal portion 42 around its entire periphery interposed and held between the opposed lid flanges 36. Thus, the plastic partition 36 insulates the lid pans 32 and 34 against direct heat transfer therebetween and also cooperates with the pans to provide a pair of so-called dead air spaces in the lid which further decrease heat transfer between the pans. The overlying lid flange portion 36 and outer marginal portion 42 of the partition are secured together and the joints sealed preferably by a cementitious material 44, such as a suitable bituminous cement. This cement 44 seals the lid parts together and also seals the joints thereof fluid tight. In order to insure against condensation occurring on the inner surfaces of the plastic lid, I prefer to assemble the lid parts 32, 34 and 36 in a room or space wherein the relative humidity is maintained as low as possible so that very little, if any, moisture is sealed within the hollow lid. After the parts are cemented together, the lid is treated bythe well known, so-called, plastic curing process which, among other things, drives out any moisture which may have been sealed in the lid, thus lessening the danger of condensation taking place on the lid inner surfaces.

A seal or gasket 46 is provided and is preferably carried by each lid to seal against the upper surface of the cabinet top 26 around the access opening. In the plan view (Fig. 2), the sealing gaskets are of U-shape to extend along the side and outer edges of the lids. Preferably these gaskets 46 are formed With a relatively hard rubber body portion 48 and a relatively soft overhanging lip portion 49 which may be molded together. As shown, the gasket body portion 48 is formed, as seen in cross section, with an offset to receive the lid flanges 38 so as -to fit complementary with the sides of the lid 28. Screws 50 extending through aligning apertures in the lid flanges 38 may be screwthreaded into the body portion 48 of the seal to attach the same to the lid. On the under side of the lid, a reinforcing metal ring i may be provided for abutment by the heads of the screws 50.

The lid hinges 30 each comprise a pair of hinge butts 54 and a hinge butt connecting member 56. Preferably, the hinge butts 54 and connecting member 56 are of such lengths as to extend substantially the entire widths of the lid pans. The hinge butts '54 and the hinge member :36 may be made of rubber, rubberized fabric or other suitably durable and pliable material. Ihe hinge butts 54 like the seal 46 are formed with offsets for receiving the lid flanges to fit complementary with and against the sides of the lids, as shown in Fig. 3. Also, the hinge butts 54 are made of relatively hard rubber whereas, upper abutting portions thereof, as at 58, are made of relatively soft rubber for displacement by contact with each other for sealing purposes. The hinge member or rubber strip 56 may be secured to the hinge butts 54 by a number of spaced screws 60 which may screwthread into nuts 82. In the present instance, the nuts 62 are hex shaped and are received in and held against turning by hex shaped recesses or sockets 54, molded in the rubber hinge butts. Preferably, clamping strips 59 are provided to receive the screws 50 and clamp marginal portions of the rubber hinge strip 56 securely to the top surfaces of the hinge butts 54. If desired, each of the lids 28 may be provided with a handle or finger grip t8 which may be located adjacent the outer edges of the lids. Screws 68 may be provided to secure the lid handles 66 to the gasket body 46. These screws 68 also extend through the lid flanges and through the clamping rings, as shown for example in Fig. 3.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that I have provided an improved, transparent cabinet lid of hollow construction having its inner and outer surfaces insulated from each other to decrease heat exchange therebetween and to prevent condensation on the lid surfaces. Also, I have provided a lid of transparent structural members constructed and assembled in a manner to prevent clouding thereof. In addition, I have provided an inexpensive, lightweight cabinet lid which may be readilyv assembled without sealing any appreciable amount of air entrained moisture therein to the end result of preventing clouding of the lids transparent surfaces.

Although only a preferred form of the invention has been illustrated, and that form described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A refrigerator cabinet lid comprising a pair of pans each having a flange extending entirely around the periphery thereof laterally of the pan sides, said pans being arranged with their extending flange faces in opposed relationship, a partition member of heat insulating material interposed between the opposed flange faces of said pans insulating said pans from each other, and means securing said pans and partition together with said partition held by and between said flanges.

2. A hollow closure member for a cabinet access opening comprising, an outer sheet material pan having an outer offset marginal portion therearound and extending laterally therefrom, an inner sheet material pan having an outer offset marginal portion therearound and extending laterally therefrom, said pans being spaced apart by said offset marginal portions, a partition between said pans having an outer marginal portion in the same plane therewith interposed between the ofiset outer marginal portions of said pans, and a cementitious material sealing the joints of and securing said marginal portion of said pans and said partitions together with said partition held between the offset marginal por tions of said pans.

3. A hollow closure member for a cabinet access opening comprising, a pair of transparent plastic sheets having offset outer marginal flanges therearound, said plastic sheets being arranged with their ofiset flanges in relatively overlying spaced relationship, an intermediate transparent plastic sheet having an outer marginal portion thereof interposed between said offset flanges insuiating said pair of plastic sheets from each other, said intermediate transparent plastic sheet also forming with said pair of plastic sheets, a pair of separate air insulating spaces, means sealing the joint between said marginal portions of said pair and of said intermediate sheets of plastic material, a sealing member on said flanges extending around substantially three quarters of the periphery thereof, a hinge member extending along the other quarter of the periphery of said flanges, and fasteners extending through the outer marginal portions of said sheets clamping said sheets, sealing member, and hinge member together.

ALVAH V. FROHNAPEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,161,092 W'ardell Novn23, 1915 3,191,319 Kline .July '18, .1916 1,549,743 Buttman et al Aug. 18, 1925 1,593,650 Buttman July 27, 1926 1,719,220 Geyer July 2,1929 1,856,881 Moss May 3, 1932 2,008,345 Blanchford July 16, 1935 2,047,461 Doyle July 14, 1936 2,190,233 Geyer Feb. 13,, 1940 2,242,421 Dodge May 20, .1941 2,321,753 King June 15 1943 2,331,512 Siedschlag Oct. 12 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 19,921 Australia Nov. '7, 1935 102,866 Australia Jan. :13, 1938 

